Cash-strapped Beds Police could spend £200k on new chief constable

Adam Parris-Long

Financially stricken Beds Police is prepared to outlay more than £200,000 on its next chief constable, a job advert reveals.

Police and crime commissioner Olly Martins is recruiting for the force’s top job after Colette Paul announced her retirement earlier this month.

A profile of the vacant position, which was posted online today, shows that the deal on offer is a wage of up to £149,350 a year, with a ‘generous’ £48,000 relocation package and an £8,000 car allowance.

In total the force’s new chief constable could cost taxpayers up to £207,350 within their first year in office.

The post comes after a warning that the force is nearing a “financial cliff” and repeated pleas for additional government funding.

It also comes in the same week that beds Police changed its operational model, following a referendum ‘no’ on an increased council tax precept for the police.

Victims of non-urgent crimes will now book an appointment with officers to have their case handled.

An application deadline of July 24 has been set for the chief constable post, while Mr Martins will interview selected candidates on August 24 and 25.

The job advert states that the PCC is looking for a chief constable who has “significant experience of managing finite resources”.

It adds that they will need to come up with “better ways to deliver value for money services that meet both local and national needs”.